Elderly?

I got an envelope today from Sunset magazine with a 'Special Offer for Senior Citizens' on it. WTF? Sorry - but when did fifty become 'Senior'? I thought 'it must be intended for J.'...but no, it was just addressed to me.

Might be a bit sensitive since I'm wearing my first EVER under wire bra - and have to admit that it has moved some flesh upward which is much needed - so now I'm an 'under wire bra' lady as well. This bra is the first under wire I've ever worn and it's pretty comfortable - so perhaps I can handle the 'lift and separate' action provided. I must admit I certainly need it.

Also, I finally got a hair cut earlier this week - and could not BELIEVE the amount of gray hair falling as she trimmed. Later that day, I stood for a LONG time in the hair color section, considering covering my gray but wanting to stick as much as I could to my 'normal' color. The selection was too much - and I had J. with me - and I gave up. Deciding to stick with my current 'gray at the temples' and 'gray hairs sticking out all over the place' look. It's working, so far.

We have appetizers in the oven - just for us! It will be a casual 'appetizers for dinner' kind of evening, with some beverages along the way....

Quiet

We will be ringing in the New Year at home this year - the annual party is not happening this year. Not sure exactly why and of course, won't pry. Last year, several couples were absent, having split sometime during the year. Other couples were present but with only one person attending - also because of a split. Since the theme of the party is playing games in teams, perhaps the numbers just weren't working out. That's OK. I honestly was sort of thinking an 'at home' New Year celebration would be nice - the only problem being my inability to stay awake. But I will, somehow.

So we're planning our own appetizers and beverages. And some kind of dinner - home made cheese enchiladas sound yummy! Possibly deciding to have some kind of 'film' marathon - Twilight series or possibly Harry Potter? Will spend the evening enjoying the company of those I most treasure - though admittedly, we have no idea what the plans are of either Son #1 or Son #2....and #2's plans will be carefully defined and crafted because we don't want him ringing in the New Year in any way that sets him back on his road to recovery.

Today will be a few errands, some work (real work), etc. The weather is clear but cold and there are a million things to do outside that a clear, sunny day makes possible. Now I just need the inertia to actually make them a reality.

I'm also going to make home made whole wheat bread today! Have not tried bread yet in my journey of mastering yeast. I did make foccacia bread the other night but sadly, the water was not warm enough so the yeast was sort of 'flat'. Still tasted good - just not as 'puffy' as foccacia usually is. Another try another night. It's really satisfying to be making Italian and know I can whip up our own 'bread' or bread sticks to go with the meal. And my Kitchen Aid mixer is really getting some good work outs, which is great - it's sure a great machine.

It's already 10 (I've only been up for an hour. I did wake up at 7 today - but it's still DARK at 7 and I just couldn't get myself to get out of bed....two hours later, it was time. Monday is going to suck....big time). I'd better get going - long lists on my sticky note screen of things to do, places to go, etc.

Happy New Year and wishing you all the best in 2011! It's going to be a great year - of that, I'm sure!

Control [Insert Alpha Here]

Turns out my sticky notes can be edited using the 'Control alpha' commands. Control B will bold, Control U will underline and Control T will strike through....so now I can enjoy the satisfaction of seeing completed items off the list until I update periodically and delete. Cool.

I did not rise by 7. In fact, I slept until after 9. Had a bad headache a good part of the night and since I can't see my clock from my bed (which really does help with just going back to sleep vs. knowing what time it is and fearing it's time to get up - admittedly not a factor during vacation weeks but might revolutionize my early-morning waking pattern on work days) so I just went back to sleep. J. was already out of the house getting his car serviced.

I'm working on culling out my closet and the garage. Took a Claritin-D in the hopes it would help my head....still 'on edge' (translation: nausea and trying to keep a migraine-level headache at bay). So I'm taking it slow. Heck, three whole days still remain....so there's still plenty of time, right?

So now my laptop screen is covered in sticky notes of different colors. Grocery lists, Costco lists, work list, home list, etc. Showed J. so he'll know to check the lists before he heads out to grocery or Costco, etc. Will hopefully ring in 2011 with a more organized Majah - having lists on the machine vs. paper works really well for me. I'm just not a paper person.

Time for more closet culling. I'm also convincing myself to just donate the various items in the 'garage sale' bins in the garage - we haven't sold them yet and we likely never will (since we just never get around to actually holding the planned sale). We currently have our entire living room furniture set in the garage (long story) and we definitely need to do some culling so we can get a car back in there soon. 4 cars, all parked outside. I can't imagine how we've managed to fill the garage but here we are. When the boys move out (someday), much will go with them.....but for now, drums, sports stuff, etc. have over taken the space.

I'm using the completely empty living room as a reason to start planning to have the 15 foot wall painted a contrasting color. Picture a deep plum. Would love to do the 'polished plaster' effect but not sure we can afford that. Still, I'm going to look into getting some ideas and estimates. Then save up to make it happen. It's a huge space with windows in odd places and I've always wanted to add color to make that space 'pop'. So now's the time! I'll try to document the process in pictures. I'm mildly tempted to 'hire' son #2 to make it happen - however, we'd need to put in scaffolding and I'm hesitant about doing that on our own. There's absolutely no way to tackle the project without scaffolding - so better to leave it to professionals. It won't happen tomorrow - we have car repair bills, veterinary bills, Christmas bills, regular bills.....so it will take some time to save up. It'll be a nice Spring project to plan for.

Sticky Notes

Progressing closer to the end of the 2010 Winter Break...I'm finding it hard to come to grips with the return to 'normal' days of work, work, work. Technically, I had planned to work a couple days this break - and still will - but have put off that time until the very end. Hmmmm......I've been frustrated by H. putting off a lot of his work until this week - but it appears he comes by the procrastination trend via genetics.

We've been enjoying a nice time at home. Getting stuff done, little by little. A lot of down time which involves doing not much of anything....and that's been really nice.

One of the neat things my new computer has is a 'sticky note' program that lets you post notes on the screen. I've had a running to do list all week and have accomplished things little by little. I love the lists that help me keep track of things - big and small - that need to be done. My only regret is that once you've completed a task, you just have to delete it. I'd love to line through them or highlight them (I highlight completed items on my to-do list - I have for years. It's so fun to 'see' all the yellow or purple highlights and realize how much I've done). I just have to delete things as I finish and keep adding new things as they come up. It's also great for grocery lists, etc.

Four days remaining. Tomorrow, I'm going to attempt what has been impossible: getting up before 8AM. I need to get back in the 'groove' of going to bed earlier and getting up earlier so Monday morning won't be such a shock.

Then again.......

See you in the morning. May be 7AM. May not be.

Better to Give.....

IF this was our last Christmas as a family of four, it was pert near perfect. And of course, we'll always be a family of four, though in years future we may be scattered hither and yon. It was the best of the best and one I will never forget.

Church was a blessing and warmed my heart. Love singing traditional Christmas carols in the beautiful church - decked out with candles, trees, poinsettias, garland and friends all around. I scolded myself for not attending more regularly....and missed my mom - a lot. She would have so enjoyed going to services with us, I think - it's so beautiful to sing Silent Night lit only by candles. It's a very special night and we enjoyed it. We drove around looking at lights for a little bit and then watched The Santa Clause - and were pretty much 'done' by around midnight. Not bad. Though J. (bless his heart!) finished up a couple things this morning before we were all out of bed. We slept in until NINE!!

I think this is the Christmas that son #1 realized the joy of giving....of selecting things personally and spoiling someone just because it's Christmas. And the person he chose to really overwhelm with his gifts was his younger brother - thus making it all the more special. H. unwrapped a CD - which he thought was the CD he'd asked for. He was thrilled. It was from his brother and he was over-the-moon happy. A few moments later, he unwrapped another CD from his brother - and realized the first CD was a 'special edition' compilation disc of the band he wanted the CD from AND a bunch of other groups....and the second CD was the coveted CD. He was TOTALLY excited and so appreciative....and B. was so happy to have given those two CDs to H. 'cuz it was so obvious how much H. loved them.

And then, H. saw ANOTHER gift under the tree from B. to him - and one that was wrapped identically with only 'To B.' on it. So they unwrapped those together - and B. had purchased TWO double barrel rifle Nerf guns for them to blast each other with. It was so perfect - H. was so excited. They didn't 'have these kind of cool guns when we were little' - which both J. and I sort of laughed about 'cuz we're STILL (honest and true) finding assorted Nerf ammunition of all shapes and sizes throughout closets, dresser drawers, etc. But these 'new' Nerf weapons have the ability to shoot very quickly - and repeatedly - with less frequent human intervention than in the past.

B. discovered the joy of picking something out so perfect - and so improbable - and then getting one for himself, too - so they could 'play' together. It was perfect and so, so fun - absolutely perfect. H. was just stunned - but also so incredibly excited - to see two young men reliving their childhoods as adults was great. Even the part where they put the guns straight up and shoot at the ceiling. Our old house had blue circles on the ceiling from one 'battle' gone vertical.

It was perfect. And it warmed my heart to see that all the careful planning - and effort - and execution year after year is rubbing off on them. Both picked out great gifts for family members - and they did it all on their own. They both needed help with wrapping - don't ask me why but they are both totally inept at the wrapping part - but they shopped and selected all on their own. H. got me some PERFECT fuzzy socks to wear to bed - which I really needed AND wanted - perfect!

Santa spoiled us all and it was a great morning. J. is downloading the entire Beatles catalog from iTunes as I type. He wasn't sure he 'wanted' it - which translated to he DID want it but was having trouble rationalizing the purchase. So I made the decision for him and bought the iTunes gift card for the complete box set. He's a happy guy who's hogging our downloading bandwidth as he downloads 100's of songs into his computer iTune library. Small price to pay.....

Ham is simmering in ginger ale. Au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, crescent rolls and berry pie will be consumed in a few hours. J. and I just had bacon, eggs and toast to give us some protein. The boys are living on stocking candy and cinnamon rolls, etc. Protein is highly overrated when you're a growing boy.....

The scavenger hunt was a huge success as well - and now one of them is shopping for a new cell phone (and quite possibly their very own cell phone plan - and paying their own bill from now on!!) and the other will be working on getting estimates for his souped up car stereo.

As for me, I've got new books, new movies (Eclipse!, Fantasia, Toy Story 3) and a GPS for geocoaching which I plan to put to good use hiking around our county looking for treasures. The kids seemed mildly interested - I told them it's like being able to have a scavenger hunt every day - or whenever - and I think when it's not raining (which it is now and will be for a few days), we'll head out to hike around and see what treasures we can find. Figured it was a good way to get J. and I up and moving more and if the boys feel like tagging along, all the better.

Even Chloe was spoiled rotten with lots of toys and her little tennis balls she loves to play with.

It's been a magical, fun day - the perfect Christmas - and it's not over yet. It's been a fantastic day and one we will always remember. This time next year, we may be Skyping with our oldest son vs. sitting down to dinner with him. And that's OK.

Hope your day was perfect and magical, too.....

Eve 2010

The neighborhood is buzzing with activity. Families gathering. Saw a lady in the Walgreen's parking lot wrapping gifts in the back of her SUV. It's a busy evening everywhere.

We're heading out to church shortly -

The day flew by - spent most of the morning making cinnamon and caramel rolls for tomorrow. 9 cups of flour and we end up with four pans of rolls. That's a lot - but I would have liked to have taken some to a couple friends. Maybe between now and New Years. I am a 'real' baker now who stores my flour in big plastic tubs with lids that hold 10 pounds each. Bread is on my list for this weekend.

After church, we'll drive around enjoying lights.

Most everything is wrapped and ready though there are always quite a few 'last minute' things to take care of. It will be a late night. B. slept until after 2PM - we're not sure exactly what time he got home last night. He'll be up late and required to stay in his room so the guy in red can do his thing as early as possible.

It's Christmas - and it's magical. And as exhausting as it is, I always feel grateful and proud of how we celebrate. The boys insist that church be a part of this evening. I tried to suggest we could go to the morning service - but apparently, Christmas day is a day to just hang out in our PJs and eat too much....the idea of getting dressed and ready for a 10:30AM service was not well received....so tonight it is. I love the candlelight service - it's so beautiful.

This time last year, we had a surly H. with us. Pissed off at having been 'found out' and not at all happy with being restricted to within an inch of his life. He's like a different kid these days - still somewhat surly at times, but it's the normal teenage angst surly - vs. the stoned out of his mind, pissed off and hating everything surly that was last year. Glad those days are behind us. Hope they are behind us permanently.

To family and friends near and far, we wish you joy in this evening and abundance in faith for tomorrow. Jesus is the reason for the season and I'm so blessed to know that. Really, truly KNOW THAT.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Have a wonderful day tomorrow -

Cashing In

We have a joke in our house....a running line.....

Whenever J.'s parents needed money - whenever there was a big expense approaching (say, for example, our wedding and wedding rehearsal), J.'s mom would say to J.'s dad 'Honey, it's time to cash in some bonds'. It used to crack us up.

We are becoming J.'s parents. So much of what we have is not easy to 'get to'. It involves a transaction - liquidating something. Sure, we don't want to do that - savings are savings and we prefer to leave them be.

But it's Christmas - and for all we know, this will be the last Christmas both kids are home for awhile. So, I've put my austerity budget on hold and instructed J. to 'cash in some bonds'.

Don't worry. We're not dipping into anything we can't afford to dip into. It's just a way of saying that I want to make this a really great Christmas - so we need to rustle up some cash-moola to ensure success. We could have stuck to our plan - it was a fine plan. And truthfully, we're not deviating too much from that plan. Just a teeny, tiny bit. Isn't that what saving up is all about? Sometimes, I'm in that mood of 'we work hard and all we do is save, save, save....' and today was one of those days. Thankfully, I won't have to 'regret it' in the morning. We'll be fine. It's only money, right? I figure I'm working another 15-17 years or so - so darn it all to heck! I'm going to spend a bit!

Wow, we are so blessed.....I'm making year-end donations, too!

I just went to Target (two, in fact) and made some purchases that will be useful and fun. I have a lot of wrapping to do -

I saw mom's with kids and a grandparent in tow. It reminded me so much of my mom that it hurt my heart to think about it. She'd arrive on an airplane and we'd be waiting for her - with Santa hats or other holiday hats, and bells on our shoes. The kids would get so excited, they could hardly stand it - waiting for Christmas wasn't just waiting for the guy in the red suit. It was waiting for their beloved MamaG. And as she did for all her grand kids, she'd start spoiling them rotten immediately. We frequented Target when she'd visit - and she'd go crazy getting all of us stuff. Some years, she was 'flush' - other years, slightly more careful. But no matter what, she'd take us shopping. It'd get so bad that I'd just look down at the ground 'cuz if I even glanced in the direction of something I might even remotely covet, it was like magic: POOF, it was in the cart. She loved to spoil us. It was hard watching all those grandma's spoiling their kids' kids.....but it was also good memories. Christmas has always been magical in this house and this year will be no exception.

We are heading out to dinner AGAIN tonight - another sign I'm loosening up the purse strings a bit....a new restaurant opened up and we're going to give it a try. I've been craving a good burger all day! Then it'll be an evening of wrapping and preparing for the annual Christmas cash scavenger hunt. J. helped with the clues this year - and they are really good. The boys are going to have to get their thinking caps on to figure out where the hidden stashes are!

Casa O

We're heading to Casa Orozco in Livermore - a favorite Mexican food place that we save for very special occasions. We are celebrating several things - first, and primarily, H.'s sixth month anniversary of his sobriety - a big milestone. Second, the tenth year anniversary of moving to Tracy and the purchase of our home. And lastly, but not leastly (yes, that's improper grammar - sorry, cousin S. but it's creative license with rhyming) - the fact that we are all in the same place at the same time - no one working. Or with plans elsewhere. Certainly a great reason to celebrate 'cuz the odds of the four of us being able to go anywhere and do anything together at the same time is very rare. So we'll seize the moment and drive to Livermore for a delicious dinner!

J. is schlepping packages to the post office for me. And mailing various cards, etc. with gifts enclosed. He and H. will also be schlepping the recycling to the recycle center and return home with cash. H. gets a 50% payment of whatever we collect since recycling is his job.

I braved the freezing cold wind and worked outside for a bit. The Japanese maples have lost their leaves and the leaves are covering the flower beds in a red/brown wet, mash. Some are managing to blow into the pool and spa and I feel sorry for the pool guy who comes in a couple days so I'm trying to clean it up a bit. The front also needs raking - from the neighbors trees, not ours. I'll get to that shortly.

The cleaning ladies come tomorrow and I don't like to be here when they're cleaning - so I'm going to head to my office for a bit. Have been doing some massive cleaning out of files, etc. and working alone with my iPod blaring is a good way to spend the morning. I'll get a lot done. I have a couple projects that need working on as well - and I'd rather start the new year feeling ahead a teeny, tiny bit vs. feeling behind - so a couple days of work out of 16 days off is do-able.

Chloe was sick yesterday - she threw up her entire breakfast within minutes of finishing and spent the day being totally cuddled. Everyone felt so sorry for her - her droopy ears and non-smiling face, lethargic puppy just stayed cuddled up on whatever lap was available. Not sure what she ate but she's right as rain this morning - back to her usual perky self. Sadly, her mama (me) is apparently bored and I've started to dress her. She got a pretty pink 'sherpa-like' coat on Sunday and she's been wearing a plaid, fleece-like garment for warmth. I think she appreciates being warmer - but sort of walks around looking like she feels dumb in whatever outfit she's in. We're trying to get some pics....but that's a challenge in itself. Maybe sometime this week. Target had the cutest holiday dog PJ's - but not in her size. God's surely looking out for her 'cuz they were as cute as they could be and I'm sure she would feel really dumb in those, too. Still, think of the possibilities - if I became one of those people that dress up their dog. Could happen. A friend of ours even bought rain boots for their dog - I won't go that far....but it's tempting.

Back to wrapping gifts. And cleaning out closets.

Spouting Off

OK - forgive me - but I just have to say this.

Are you watching 60 Minutes? We are. We never miss it.

One of the segments is on the growing crisis facing State's across the country - many in dire straits. California is among them.

The Governor of New Jersey was spouting off about how the real issue is the growing obligation of state pension funds - and insists that people who have pensions should be forced to give them up. "Who has pensions these days?", he stated.

Before everyone jumps on the band wagon of blaming your local teacher, or other school employees or State workers - know this about how State 'pensions' work.

I put 7% of my salary into our State's pension fund. That is money I MUST contribute - I cannot opt out. My employer matches that dollar for dollar - so my school district has to use part of it's funding to fund my retirement. And my employer is actually forced to pay a few percentage points MORE than I am. All together, between me and my employer, a combined 16.3% of my salary is sent to the state EVERY SINGLE MONTH. The employee and employer make these payments to the state every single paycheck. Teachers do too, and in fact, the payment for teachers is a little more than for me.

So before everyone assumes that these pensions are 'State money' being given away to people - they are not. They are funded by the employees and the various employers - and the State is responsible for investing those monies into investments that have long-term gains guaranteed to fund the pension benefits we will be entitled to when we retire. When you hear a State say they can't fund their pensions - it's because someone at the State failed at their job: failed to invest the funds and keep them safe and growing to fund retirements as they happen. That's not the fault of the employees or employers. It's the fault of the State.

It fries me no end to hear people complain about State pensions. My responsibilities would earn me double what I'm making if I were to find a comparable job in the corporate world. And I'd make a contribution to a 401k and my employer would hopefully match it - similar to the fund I contribute to now. The only difference is: I know exactly what my monthly payments will be when I retire. Unlike 401K's, when I die, my heirs receive nothing. Other than my 7% - which I could withdraw in a lump sum if I'm willing to forfeit any monthly benefit - I am not entitled to any of my employer's contribution. As people move out of the jobs, the payments their employers have made stay to fund the retirement of other people. Employers get none of their contributions back EVER. And their employees never benefit either if they leave the system - they take what they've contributed only and their employer's contributions stay and are not refunded.

It's not the fault of the individuals receiving the pensions that the State's are in dire financial straits and can't fund all their expenses. State government needs to quit whining and fix the problem: balance the budget and stop spending money they don't have for things they can do without. Our state is making some big changes in how education is funded - and while these changes are (still, for the moment) temporary and set to expire in a couple years, we're hopeful they will retain them long term. Changing the funding has eliminated some jobs at the State level - which isn't great - but it is a reduction in expense which the State desperately needs to do.

All of the above is in the most simplistic terms and I realize everything is a heck of a lot more complicated than this post. But don't threaten the retirements of millions of people across the country because someone convinces you THAT will solve the issues. It won't. It will only add to them. People who work in the public sector make that choice for a variety of reasons - and many have been in the public sector their entire careers. So to renege on their retirement would be wrong.

OK - enough politics and stuff.

Day 2 of vacation. Ran errands yesterday. Today, stayed home. Made home made beef noodle soup. We met with one of B.'s friends selling Cutco knives (which I've been coveting for a long time) and Santa brought me and J. a present - a beautiful set of knives that are amazing and will last our entire lives and the lives of the boys. They will probably be fighting over them when we're gone. (Though I'm planning to get them each a set as a wedding present). I'm really enjoying doing more cooking and having good tools to use will greatly help me. Encourage me to try new things. It's also great to help a college kid make some money so he can now enjoy his winter break - he'll be able to take a week or two off now since he made a good sale and gets a good commission.

Still have 14 days off ahead. I'm struggling to sleep in mornings....this morning, woke up at 3:30, 4:30, 6:00 and finally up just after 7. It's hard to stay asleep....and honestly, shifting my sleep to going to bed later and getting up later will only totally mess me up for WEEKS when work starts again. Which it will....so better to try to stay 'normal' as much as I can. It's great not setting any alarm....love that. And if I can easily go back to sleep, I will...but forcing myself to stay asleep is not working too well.

I'm planning to make home made whole wheat bread and get dough ready for cinnmon rolls on Christmas morning. It will be quiet and quick. I need to get scavenger hunt clues ready. I'm trying so hard not to just buy a bunch of stuff for under the tree. I've got a few things but not much - and I really don't want to spend money for things they don't care about. But it's hard - though I know they will be excited about having money. Especially H. 'cuz he really wants to get a car stereo for his car. And B. really wants a new phone. His died and he's using mine (swapped chips). So they'll have the cash they need to get what they want - and just not much to unwrap under the tree.

Hump Day

Three down, two to go.....

The third passed primarily with me in bed - migraine category headache and upset stomach. Made it through the breakfast I was co-hosting with my boss and then dropped off leftovers at home. Dropped off my breakfast, too - and decided I'd be better off staying home. 30 minutes of rescheduling my entire day - which I'll pay for tomorrow which was already pretty full and is now totally booked solid from 7AM on. Sucks to not even have the time to take a 'sick' day.

We have our office holiday party tomorrow evening and then just have to make it through Friday - and then it's just a nice slide into 16 days off! IN A ROW! Just the thought of sleeping in that many days makes me giddy! And for me, sleeping in is getting up around 6 or 7 - but it's still an extra 2 or 3 hours.

All of us are under the weather.....all the men in my life are scratchy-throated, stuffy-headed, achy beasts. Glad we all only have two more days - and pray we don't need the entire week before Christmas to recuperate. So many projects loom.

The kids have augmented their Christmas lists to include new cell phones. They do need them - both of their phones are dying - making using them to roust them out of bed or send text messages of reminders close to impossible. They aren't working well enough to guarantee consistency. They are old. Of course, the phones they covet are hugely expensive - and so we are agreeing to get new phones this year in lieu of the planned gift of cash. This is going over sort of lukewarm. Hmmm....when they realize they're using their money to pay for something, how quickly they understand just how expensive things are. So we're in the negotiations.

I'm not used to this computer and I just deleted a small paragraph - and I have no idea how I did that. So I give up - I'm going to bed.

Lift Off

Humming right along on my new, super fast, sleek (though considerably bigger) laptop. Got a blue screen again on the old one so decided it's officially time. The old one is still 'working' - and I'll still use it for playing some computer games that are on it - but my new, pretty Dell is now the official Majah computer. Successfully moved Quicken over to this PC this morning. Also made the first cyber purchase (more to come momentarily); enjoyed some virtual farming, city planning and forging new frontiers. The keyboard is much larger and that is taking some getting used to. And the delete button is in the weirdest place ever but I hopefully won't have to use Control-Alt-Delete as much on this computer vs. my old one - no freezing up anytime soon - so that won't be too much of a problem.

H. is taking a culinary arts class so we've been cooking up a storm. Made home made chicken pot pies last night - good but a little too salty. Was a good recipe to try since he has to critique the recipes and so he has something to comment on. This morning, we're whipping up some cinnamon and sticky buns for me to take to work tomorrow. And hopefully we'll have enough dough left over for homemade pizza tonight - otherwise, we'll be whipping up a home made pizza crust later today. We're also making Christmas sugar cookies - though we will be decorating them via a shortcut. Purchased edible paper transfers of pretty designs to put on the top of round cookies. Really just wanted to try them out and see what they're like - we'll also decorate some with more traditional methods.

Tree is up and lit. Decorating later today. Wrapping Central is set up in our bedroom. Have to finish shopping for out of town family shortly and then get things ready to mail.

Only five work days until vacation. It is a long week and it is jammed. Feel a little weary just thinking about it. Minutes tick by no matter what....so I know I'll make it through. We have a fun work holiday party planned on Thursday evening - we're doing Secret Santa's again this year and I've been struggling to find the right 'White Elephant' gift for the person I'm being Santa for. I'm not sure I get the concept of White Elephant but I think I've figured it out yesterday. It's goofy, has no practical purpose and the person will probably want to get rid of it as soon as possible. I think I've got it figured out finally!

OK - first official blog post on new computer crossed off the list of firsts for this machine.

Back to baking!

Counting Down

Up early to get my virtual farming fix - and it appears the game is down. So I'll write myself a little reminder of the happenings here - boring as they may be.

Only eight days of work left before Winter Break! Yeah! Days are busy and full so that is great 'cuz they fly by. Not so great 'cuz there's so much to do - and at some point, there will be a 'just stop'. Some of it will keep. It will have to.

J. and I seem to be well prepared for Christmas - most of the purchased gifts so far are for us! The boys have 'stuff' for under the tree - it's just so hard to know what to get them these days.

H. is back on his path to transfer back to his 'old' high school after the Winter Break. I understand completely that he really wants to be back with his friends and graduate with the kids he's known since we moved here. I just worry about all the technical parts of making that happen. I've given the responsibility for figuring it all out to J. My head and heart need to just stay out of it at this point. If he goes back, I worry about things like: he didn't have Senior portraits done, so he won't be in the year book. We didn't order announcements and his cap and gown and all those mechanical things - but they must have ways of making all those things happen. I'm sure they do. It will all work out. If he can pull off getting caught up before/during the winter break, then I guess we'll allow him to go back to his 'school of choice'. And then just keep our fingers crossed his last semester of high school goes OK.

B. got his hair cut with a zero - he's bald, basically. I don't like the look but it's not my head - but I still have a startle response every time I see him (which thankfully, at the moment, isn't often. Work, school, social life - he's rarely home these days, or at least not home and vertical when I am). So it will grow out a bit in the next couple weeks and then I'll recognize him again.

My new laptop is on the FedEx truck and should be here any day. And it appears I don't need it - 'cuz my lap top is behaving itself so far. Oh, the tangled web of rationalizing an expensive purchase that is not technically a need. It will be someday, though, right? Right?

Christmas tree is in the living room with no decorations on it. Nada. Zip. Lawn decorations are up and lit at night. Pretty. We're not doing lights on the house - saves electricity. The lawn stuff is 'enough'. Hopefully, we will decorate this weekend. I worked absolutely all weekend on my big report but will hopefully be home this weekend (for the most part). Here's hoping.

Enjoyed a work event in San Francisco on Monday evening. Nice dinner with friends and went in on BART a little early and did a little shopping. I love the city at Christmas - it's magical. We will be returning with the boys sometime during the break - it's always fun!

I've got to get going - missing my farming fix (which is a very relaxing way to start the day). There's much to do at work and meetings most of the day so I'd better get in to my office to tidy up a bit before heading out for meetings.